The car has finally finished a rally without breaking!! Seems the driveshaft is ok at last.

It was only a short event, but the car went well and the service crew had nothing to do all day It was a great feeling driving it home and in to the garage under it's own power.

The only thing I'd like to change in the future now is the gearing, as it's a bit tall at the moment for what I need. Still a fun car to drive though, and it gets a lot of attention._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

I did my bit for charity today. The Dunlop Targa NZ 2009 started today, and although I'm not a starter this time (budget's blown this year) I went out and took part in a grass motorkhana at the event start to raise money for "Cure Kids" - Targa's chosen charity.

We took people for rides for donations, and most people had a ball. The 924 is very interesting to drive on grass with slicks!! It was so much fun, and I'm even more keen try the car on a gravel rally now._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

I had a driving lesson with local rally legend Marty Roestenburg at the start of the year, and the car packed up about 10 laps into it! Lots of play in the diff, rear wheel bearings and the clutch started jamming again - all rather embarrasing in front of a pro!!

This prompted another rebuild, which has been held up due to a family illness, but I do have most of the parts to complete now. I worked on it for the first time over the weekend, and managed to get the engine out to check the clutch. The input spline was still touching the eccentric shaft, so will now be removed from the torque tube, and machined down to the right length. It's time to sort everything properly this time!

This weekend I'm hoping to get the gearbox, torque tube and rear suspension out so I can start on the full rebuild. The target is the Targa Bambina in March 2011.

Jobs to complete before then are:

Modify drive shaft
Rebuild gearbox and fit Audi LSD and 4.8:1 R&P
Fit Alloy rear arms and Koni coilovers
New discs and wheel bearings all round
Change front spring rate
Add extra bars to rollcage
Alter seat position and add adjustable pedal box (so my short wife can drive too )
Build new dash and demister
Rewire whole car
Cut rear guards and fit flares
Make front spoiler to fit in with flares
Refit standard glass all round (the lexan is a pain for Targas)
Remove aftermarket sunroof and fit roof vent
Paint it all bright pink
This thing is going to be bright, fast, comfortable and reliable by the time I finish this rebuild!

Will keep you all updated as I go._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

Cut and welded the rear arches, and should completely finish the flares this weekend.

Dropped the driveshaft into the engineers today to get the spline shortened by 7mm and the recess in the spigot shaft metal sprayed and ground to extend the spigot shaft. This will to allow use of the mazda spigot bearing seal, and eliminate any binding between the spline and the eccentric shaft.

My mate Ray (www.rollcage.co.nz) has been around to look at the roll cage and made some good suggestions for making it even stronger. I'll get it to him once all the mechanical work is finished._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

You have it well in hand cant waite to see it on the ground.
I like the classic look of cookie - cutters. Cheers._________________1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Got the newly machined driveshaft back in the torque tube today, so just need to sort out the gearbox now and I'll be ready to put all the driveline back in the car. _________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

I started pulling the gearbox apart last weekend, and also the Audi V8 LSD I had bought about a year ago. Imagine my surprize when I opened up the Audi diff housing to find a STANDARD diff! It was just very tight, so acted like an LSD when I turned it over by hand . Oh well, I'll remember to check things thoroughly next time I buy second hand parts off the internet.

The week picked up though when I managed to get a 944 front spoiler to modify for it for only $61 (they normally go for about $450 in NZ).

Works getting busy again now, so I'm probably not going to get much time to work on it over the next few weeks._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz

I have the gearbox completely apart now, and have changed the bearings in the main case. Have sent the pinion shaft and main shaft to a transmission specialist to get the gears and bearings swapped over (at least that way I know it's been done properly!). Will hopefully be able to get the transmission back together in the next few weeks._________________Andrew
1977 RX924 rally car
12a bridgeport
www.race4-dcup.co.nz